The must-pack products for perfect holiday skin

If you are jetting off to escape winter, here’s the best way to pack your beauty bag for a northern hemisphere holiday, without overdoing it.

Moisturiser

The first essential as skin can become dry in the heat. Make sure it has a SPF rating so you’ve covered two areas. My favourites – and not ridiculously priced – are QV Face Moisturising Day Cream SPF 30 ($16.60) and Invisible Zinc Face & Body Sunscreen SPF 50 ($19.99), or the paraben-free and Australian-made O Cosmetics Mineral Pro SPF 30+ ($49).

Illuminating Primer

With a tan, you may find you don’t want to wear foundation but this product will still give you a beautiful glow. Try the Mecca Bring On Bright Illuminating Primer ($20), Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow (which is available in a travel-size, $38) and the Becca Jet-Set Glow Prep and Prime Kit (this also comes with a brightening undereye corrector, $30).

Foundation

Use a light coverage foundation to avoid a cakey feeling. Apply with fingers to minimise overuse. Easy to spread are the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder ($70), Nars Sheer Glow ($72) and one of my AB Mineralise foundations (made in New York).

Concealer

This is a must, particularly for during the day when little foundation or only spot covering to even out skin tone and undereye concealing are needed. Pack the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($46) or Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer ($48). For a highlighting effect, you can’t go past the iconic Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat ($70).

Bronzer

Dust on the cheeks, forehead and neck with a big brush. Here’s a trick – also apply to the eyelids. It’ll look like you have eyeshadow on, without carrying an extra product. I recommend Nars Laguna or Casino ($60), MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden or Bronze ($45), and Becca Sunlit ($57).

Blush

A cheek tint is perfect for a soft wash of holiday colour. I love the Becca Cheek Tint in Watermelon ($45), but all of their colours are excellent depending on skin tone and preference. Apply on the balls of the cheeks and lips, and smooth onto eyelids as well, if you haven’t used the bronzer trick.

Mascara

Don’t skip this, if you do nothing else. Pack a waterproof version but make sure to also throw in an oil-based remover, which is preferable for taking off waterproof mascara. Sephora’s travel-size mascaras and removers are a staple in my holiday kit. Currently, I’m also loving and using MAC Up For Everything Lash Mascara ($42), with MAC Gently Off Eye And Lip Makeup Remover ($36).

Lip gloss

I never pack more than one to two colours – either pink, coral or brown-based. Try MAC Creamsheen Glass in Boy Bait ($40), MAC Tinted Lipglass in Prrr ($34) or Nars Lip Gloss in Greek Holiday, Orgasm and Chihuahua ($37).

Hair

Apply Wella SP Luxe Oil ($46.95) or Eleven’s Miracle Hair ($24.95) for natural lustre.

Antoinette Bekos is the founder and director of AB Hair & Makeup in Albert Park, with celebrity clients in Melbourne television and theatre.

In my makeup bag..

“Even if you’re running on empty this product gives skin an instant glow, as though you really take care of yourself.”

Emily Taheny, Actor, Mad As Hell,  ABC TV